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why do you get your eyes dilated

Dilation is part of a thorough. You may think itБs a hassle. But it gives your doctor a good look inside your. ItБs especially important if youБre having or problems, or if youБre more likely to get certain eye diseases. Normally, your pupil gets smaller when light shines into it. In dilation, your doctor uses special eye drops to force the pupil to stay open. That allows him to see much more of the back of your, including the entire retina, the part of the retina called the, and the optic nerve. During a dilated exam, your doctor can spot problems like a torn or or an eye tumor. They can also diagnose and monitor common eye diseases that can take away your sight: : Signs include vessels that leak, swell, or grow abnormally in the retina. : Your doctor looks for damage to the optic nerve. Age-related : Protein or pigment buildup and unusual growth of vessels are symptoms of a breakdown of the macula.

How Long Does It Last? EveryoneБs react differently to the dilation drops. It usually takes 15 to 30 minutes for your pupils to open completely. Most people are back to normal within about 4 to 6 hours. But for you, the effects could wear off more quickly, or they could last much longer. Can I Drive? Dilation doesnБt typically affect your distance. But because your pupils canБt control the amount of light going into your eyes, the glare outside may bother you. For some people, that makes it unsafe to drive. If youБve never had your dilated, get someone else to drive you home from your appointment. Once youБve had it done, youБll know whether dilation means you canБt drive after an exam. Whether or not you get behind the wheel, itБs a good idea to bring with you so you can shield your eyes after the exam. You look in the mirror and notice that the dark circles in the middle of your are bigger than usual.

What's going on? Those dark circles are your pupils, the openings that let light enter your eye so you can see. Muscles in the colored part of your, called the iris, control your pupil size. Your pupils get bigger or smaller, depending on the amount of light around you. In low light, your pupils open up, or dilate, to let in more light. When itвs bright, they get smaller, or constrict, to let in less light. Sometimes your pupils can dilate without any change in the light. The medical term for it is mydriasis. Medicines, injuries, and diseases can all cause this eye condition. A few medicines can affect the muscles that control your pupils and prevent them from getting smaller when light shines in. These meds include: (Atropen), which treats problems with rhythm, issues, and some types of poisoning, like diphenhydramine, like and anti- medicines such as Parkinson's medications such as ( ) and -levodopa ( like amitriptyline ( ) and ( (, Myobloc) Anti- drugs, such as ( ) and topiramate ( Dilated pupils are one sign that someone has used, such as: These drugs affect the muscle that widens the pupil, slowing how it reacts to light.

So even in a bright room, the stay dilated. Withdrawal from these drugs can also make the pupils stay open wide. Pressure that builds inside your after a head injury, or tumor can damage the muscles in your iris that normally make your pupils open and close. One or both of your pupils can become fixed in the dilated position and canвt react to light. If that happens, you should see a doctor right away. If you've had a, your doctor or nurse might shine a light into your during the exam to see if your pupils get smaller.